Time flew by, and the day of parting finally arrived.
Xiao Fan escorted Huo Ling'er to the front of the thatched cottage.
"All good things must come to an end. May your path in the immortal way be everlasting," Xiao Fan said calmly as he bid farewell.
"Thank you for your kind words and for taking care of me these past days," Huo Ling'er replied with a bright smile, showing no hint of sadness.
Seeing her cheerful demeanor, Xiao Fan felt something was off. His eyelids twitched involuntarily, especially when he caught the meaningful look in her eyes. A sense of foreboding crept over him. Could it be that Huo Ling'er planned to take revenge for all the times she had been frustrated with him?
Now that Huo Ling'er's cultivation had fully recovered, Xiao Fan didn't know her exact level, but it was certainly far above his. If she intended to act against him, he would have no choice but to accept his fate. However, from what he knew of Huo Ling'er, despite her pride and temper, she was reasonable and kind-hearted.
"Your help was nothing more than a simple gesture. You don't need to dwell on it," Xiao Fan replied, maintaining his calm demeanor despite feeling a bit sad inside. He knew this parting was likely forever.
Huo Ling'er chuckled. "That's not right. A life-saving grace is something to be remembered."
"What do you mean by that?" Xiao Fan sensed something hidden in her words.
"You'll understand soon enough," Huo Ling'er said with a mischievous grin. "It's getting late. We should set off."
"We?" Xiao Fan was still trying to grasp her meaning when he suddenly felt a sharp pain at the back of his neck and blacked out.
"Let's go!" Huo Ling'er pulled out a large sack from nowhere and stuffed Xiao Fan inside. She then summoned her life-bound spirit weapon, the Fire Spirit Sword, and with Xiao Fan slung over her shoulder, took to the skies.
Outside the Haotian Mirror.
Spectators were left in awe of the Fire Empress Huo Ling'er's boldness. Her decisive actions and clear distinction between love and hate earned her respect as a true heroine among women.
In the void, the current Fire Empress Huo Ling'er could hardly bear to watch. Her past mistakes were laid bare for the world to see, making her, despite her revered status, feel deeply ashamed.
Her expression soon turned somber. If only she hadn't acted impulsively and taken Xiao Fan back to the capital, perhaps the subsequent disasters wouldn't have occurred. Her father wouldn't have died, and half of the imperial city wouldn't have perished. The enmity between her and Xiao Fan wouldn't have reached this irreparable point.
Ultimately, she was also a culprit in the tragedy that befell the Heavenly Fire Kingdom. Since then, she had worked tirelessly to revive the nation.
Yes, she had succeeded. The Heavenly Fire Kingdom was no longer a minor state but had become a formidable empire in the cultivation world. Once she killed Xiao Fan to avenge her father and the innocent citizens, everything would come to a perfect end.
"Shameless, truly shameless!"
Miles away, the Beiming Empress Leng Ruoxue cursed in fury.
"Though I don't know what happened between my master and the Fire Empress later, my master was forcibly taken by her. Regardless of what happened after, the Fire Empress bears undeniable responsibility. She blames everything on my master, which is utterly shameless."
The Taiyin Empress Wen Yaxian nodded in agreement. Their master, Xiao Fan, had only wanted a peaceful life but was dragged into these events by Huo Ling'er. Although they didn't know the full story, placing all the blame on Xiao Fan was unjustifiable.
Leng Ruoxue's anger grew, frustrated by her slow recovery. If only she were stronger, she would confront the Fire Empress Huo Ling'er and demand justice.
Many spectators shared similar thoughts, seeing significant fault in the Fire Empress's actions. Yet, her current powerful status shielded her from criticism.
Aware of her own culpability, the Fire Empress knew she wasn't fit to rule. After ending everything by killing Xiao Fan, she planned to abdicate in favor of the Heavenly Fire King and retire to the cottage where she had once lived with Xiao Fan, to live out her days in solitude.
The Heavenly Fire King, seeing the emotions on his sister's face, sighed deeply. He wanted to tell her she wasn't to blame, but he knew her well enough to realize her mind was made up. This might indeed be the best outcome.
Back to the scene inside the Haotian Mirror.
Xiao Fan slowly regained consciousness, his eyes meeting Huo Ling'er's fiery gaze.
"You're awake! You must be hungry. I'll get some food," Huo Ling'er said cheerfully.
Xiao Fan didn't reply. Instead, he looked around the unfamiliar surroundings, frowning. "Where are we?"
Clearly, he had realized he was forcibly taken by Huo Ling'er.
"We're in the Heavenly Fire Kingdom. We'll reach the capital in a day," Huo Ling'er replied with a smile.
"Sigh..." Xiao Fan sighed deeply. Only Huo Ling'er could pull off something like this. No wonder he had felt something was off earlier. She had been planning this all along.
"I need some time alone," Xiao Fan said, still processing the situation.
"Alright," Huo Ling'er agreed, surprisingly compliant. She left to arrange for some food, giving Xiao Fan space to adjust to this reality.
Left alone, Xiao Fan suddenly felt a familiar and disturbing sensation within. The demonic consciousness was stirring again. After a long dormancy, it seemed to regain some vigor, reacting to the surrounding energy and attempting to take control.
Xiao Fan quickly drew his dagger and stabbed his thigh, using the pain to stay conscious.
Creak~
The door opened, and Huo Ling'er entered with food, only to freeze at the sight before her.